A Pulaski County Council member says a lack of information is hurting the council’s ability to manage the county’s finances. During Monday’s meeting, Kathi Thompson said the council needs monthly updates on how the county’s expenditures compare to its budget.
“For two years, Linda Powers Nunez requested those reports almost every month, and Mr. [Ken] Boswell requested those reports, too,” Thompson said. “I have requested those reports almost every month, and I’ll tell you right now, if we don’t start seeing them in January, by February 1, I’m going to be doing a Freedom of Information Act, that form, asking for those reports, so that we can have those reports in front of us every month.”
Thompson felt that a large part of the county’s current financial challenges would have been avoided, if council members had gotten the information they requested from the Auditor’s Office. “I think that in 2017 and 2018, particularly, this council would have caught massive over-expenditures, had those reports been available,” Thompson said.
She also complained that council members don’t have access to current fund balances. That can make things difficult, when departments request additional appropriations.
